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veyance was executed by the trustees of the Society and Mr . Williams . In 1848 the Society rented about eighty-five acres of the estate for the annual amount of £ 53 . A lease for the duration of the present life interest has also been duly executed by all the parties concerned . It is upon this land that the Society is now engaged in its attempt at a practical illustration of communal life in this country . The plan is to cultivate the farm , well , and to erect residences for the members , workshops , factories , and schools ; uniting agriculture and manufactures , consuming the agricultural produce in the maintenance of the resident members , and disposing of the manufactured articles to the outside members
in all parts of the country ; establishing a state in which all shall labour , where men of different creeds and characters may work together for their common good ; in which the produce of each shall be cast into the common store , and the wants of all supplied from it ; at the same time educating the children of the members , and , in some cases , the adults . In this association no anarchical doctrines are preached , no meddling with the laws or rights of property ; but simply a trial whether working men and others sympathizing with them , by clubbing their capital and purchasing property , farming , building , manufacturing , training , &c , cannot , on the whole , live to a better purpose for themselves and England than they are now doing in this competing state . has income
The Redemption Society a regular from the subscriptions of its members ; with this it is purchasing agricultural implements and improving the farm . Lately it has commenced a special fund for the erection of dwellings , workshops , and schools . " When a sufficient amount is in hand to warrant a commencement , a number of members will be drafted from the body to complete the buildings . Those who wish to aid the Society may remit their contributions to the treasurer , Mr . William West , tailor and draper , Briggate , Leeds ; and those who wish for further information may apply to Mr . David Green , bookseller , 166 , Briggate , Leeds . The following gentlemen are the trustees of the society : —
The Reverend E . R . Larken , of Burton rectory , near Lincoln ; Mr . Robert Smith , upholsterer , Leeds ; Mr . Charles Barton , confectioner , Leeds . D . G .
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THE ICARIANS . Icarian Committee-rooms , 13 Newman-street , Oxford-street , July 23 , 1850 . The last accounts from the community at Nauvoo state that the Icarians who embarked at Havre , on the 9 th of March , on board the Callender , arrived at New Orleans the 30 th of April , after a happy voyage of 52 days . The steam-boat Columbus , on which to from
they embarked on the 1 st of May , go New Orleans to St . Louis , met with a serious accident near Cairo , about sixty leagues from St . Louis : the boiler burst while racing with another boat that was endeavouring to pass them . Twenty passengers , nil German and Irish emigrants , were killed or wounded , but none of the Icarians were injured . In the voyage they lost many things , more or less important , that were stolen from them , and they state that on
these occasions emigrants cannot take too many precautions in looking after and preserving their effects . They arrived at Nauvoo on the evening of the 17 th of May , where they were warmly welcomed by their Icarian brethren . The destruction of the temple by the fearful hurricane of the 27 th of May offers a serious drawback to the exertions of the community . Workmen were already engaged in repairing it , in order to fit it for the several purposes of schools , refectories , and assemblycement t the
rooms . The masons , at the commen o storm , took refuge in one of the cells in the side of the building , and thus became the te * ritiecl and unwilling witnesses to the completion of the destruction of this imposing and costly structure , themselves narrowly escaping from being crushed by the ponderous masses of white marble of which it was composed . But , notwithstanding the overwhelming nature of the misfortune , it has not been sufficient to daunt the courage nor cool the perseverance of the community , for M . Bourg , the general secretary , writes as follows : —
' Although the 27 th be a day for us fertile in disasters , such as the inundation and injury of our dwellings ( of which a great part of the windows are broken ) , the desolation of our harvest , and , above all , the irreparable fall of the temple , which changes all our plans for this year ; nevertheless , this day of reverses , which would cause the ruin and the despair of an individual dependent only upon himself , has not shaken our courage nor our hopes . It is our association which , by its system of solidarity , renders losses less perceptible by dividing them ; and at the same time by its collective power , increases a hundredfold the means of repairing or mitigating misfortunes .
" Our little Communitarian colony is strong in its organization , in the faith of its members , in the fraternal succours of all the Icarians , and m the benevolent support of the inhabitants of the county . Our little colony , directed by the high intelligence of its venerable president , will not march leas resolutely to the accomplishment of its great work—The reign of Universal Brotherhood . " T . C .
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MR . OWEN . An address , of which the following is a copy , has been forwarded to Mr . Owen . We are not yet able to say whether he will be induced to comply with the wishes of his friends in Lancashire . " TO KOBERT OWEN , ESQ . ; Founder of the Rational System of Society . " Dear and respected Sir , —We , the undersigned , the disciples and admirers of your views , residing in various parts of the West Riding- of Yorkshire , desire to engage your attention for a few moments in perusing the sentiments which prompt us to address you on the present occasion . ... . " We desire to congratulate you , Sir , that now , in the calm evening of life , you are in possession of comparative health , and in the full retention of those faculties which have rendered you so marked a benefactor to the human race , by enabling you to discover and , in the spirit of kindness and charity , persevenngly to declare the true principles of the Science of Society , the foundation of which is , that ' the character of majji is formed for him , and not by him . ' " We rejoice , too , that your life has been prolonged to witness the result of your early labours in this great and glorious work ; insomuch that , while at the first propounding your views , you held them singly and unaided , these views now number amongst their advocates the most enlightened minds in all ranks of society and in every quarter of the globe . . " Respect for your name , and admiration of your efforts in behalf of humanitv , induce us to prefer a request which we earnestly and respectfully hope ( your strength permitting ) you will kindly comply with : namely , that , at your earliest convenience , you will pay a visit to our district , to receive from us an expression of our regard , and to afford to us , once more , an opportunity of hearing from you , in person , those everlasting truths , of which we profess ourselves ardent admirers , but very imperfect disciples . , " We take the liberty of assuring you of our respect and undimiuished affection ; and desire to express a sincere wish that your valuable life may be further prolonged to witness still greater triumphs of truth , justice , and righteousness amongst peoples and governments ; and that , in the contemplation oi your past efforts , and from the increased and ever-increasing benefits resulting therefrom , mingled with the gratitude of the recipients , the autumn of your days will be enlivened and consoled with the consciousness that your labour of love has not been in vain .
" With these sentiments we beg to subscribe ourselves your affectionate admirers , " John Douthwaite , Thomas Hargreaves , James Simpson , Charles Whittaker , William Taylor , William Stott , Matthew Brewett , On behalf of the Social Reform League , Bradford , Joseph Nicholson , Joseph Foreman , Abraham Baldwin , John Dennis , James Lord , Robert Buckle , On behalf of the Social Reform , League , Halifax . David Green , Robert Owen Cameron , William Hobson , Thomas Brownless , On behalf of the Redemption Society . Christopher Barker , Jos . Baldwin . " Bradford , Yorkshire , July 14 , 1850 . "
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A TOUR IN PIEDMONT . The Piedmontese enjoy the most perfect liberty of the press , which they use with great skill and prudence ; the ordinary price of a daily paper is one halfpenny , and the democratic journals , of which the Gazettadcl Popolo and the Fieschetta are the principal , are read with avidity by all classes , by no means excluding the military , who devour them . The two principal parties are the Constitutionalists and the . Republicans , to whom are opposed the ecclesiastics , who have much wealth , and are very numerous , as you meet them at the corner of every street , with
their broad dignitorial hats . The Constitutionalists , who are , perhaps , the most numerous and influential , have the greatest affection for the King , though they are not opposed to a gradual progress , and especially to the overthrow of priestly influence , in which the King is willing to assist them . The Republicans are endowed with energy and talent , and rest all their hopes in a republican form of government , which they hope to obtain by peaceful means . The greater pait of the people are of this party ; but most of the middle class , the more wealthy shopkeepers , are Constitutionalists . In the mountains , where the priests
are poor and the people ignorant , the former are in great esteem , and on very friendly terms with all . Piedmont is undoubtedly in a fair way of progress , and full of promise for the future . Socialism has made but little progress ; but , with a free press and free education , the truth cannot fail to prevail . That which struck me most in passing through this country was the remarkable freedom of speech enjoyed by the peop le on all subjects , whereas in France they scarcely dare to open their mouths on politics to a stranger . the most miser
The Val d' Aorta is inhabited by - able race of beings , deformed in body and mind , and lazy , all owing apparently to circumstances which might be removed ; indeed , everywhere throughout Piedmont and Le Valais the condition of the working class is generally very bad ; everywhere the rich arc getting richer and the poor poorer ; when we get into the Pays du Vaud , inhabited by a line open intelligent and independent people , wo sec ior the first time a peasantry living in comfort and contentment , and no beggars , no paupers ; but there also they have to work harder than is right or good for human beings .
At 13 cx , near St . Maurice , there is a largo estate belonging to the Abbey of St . Maurice , on which the peasantry enjoy plenty of the necessaries of lift . ' , amusements buitable to their tastes , and u tolerable education . Along the whole northern side ot the Luke of Geneva , covered with beautiful vineyards from Vevey , by Lausanne , to Gencvn , the condition
of the peasantry is very tolerable ; and , should they at any time su ' ffer from distress , there are numbers of rich English and others ( amongst whom Mr . Aldi man , of Lausanne , deserves honourable mention ) who are ever ready to assist them . This is certainly a better state of things than in our own country ; but how different from what it might be in this glorious country , with its majestic mountain scenery , its lovely lakes , its fertile plains and hill - sides , producing wheat , hemp , wantin
maize , vines , and everything that man can , the greatest profusion , while on the mountains wander thousands of cattle , the pleasant sound of their tinkling bells ringing far up the mountain side , where the traveller ' s eye seeks them in vain ; or perhaps , as he turns some corner in the rocky path , he sees a herd of cows , each with a bell on its neck , leaping like goats over cascades and loose rocks , flourishing ther tails and rejoicing in the freshness of the morning breeze .
What a happy , thrice happy , country might this be , did man but rightly understand the science of society ! The loveliest spot on the borders of Lake Leman is Lausanne , and the house of our c elebrated Gibbon is in the most delightful situation , commanding an extensive view of the lake , the snow-capped Alps rolled in gorgeous clouds , the pretty villages scattered about the shores of the lake , the luxuriant vineyards , and the pleasing home scenery of the neighbourhood , rightly called the Languedoc of Switzerland .
Geneva contains the rich , the moderate , and the poor , and some very poor indeed . But , though the Genevese enjoy a democratic government , they have not discovered the just mode of distribution of wealth , which Socialism alone can teach them . There are , however , several associations of workmen , more or less fraternal , besides benefit societies . The most interesting that I have visited is the Association Alimentaire , commenced in September , 1848 , with 200 members at two francs each , and consisting now of 1100 at one franc each ; the members are workmen of various trades , associated for the
purpose of getting cheap dinners ; like our clnbs , they pay persons to serve , and for half a franc any one can get a very excellent dinner of one plate of meat , roast or boiled , one plate of vegetables at your choice , a large piece of bread , and half a bottle of wine . The room is large , clean , well ventilated ; the tables very clean , but without cloth ; and when I was there the hall was nearly full of persons of all classes and ages ; workmen , clerks , &c . ; young women most respectably dressed ; young men about seventeen , and children ; besides many who came to fetch their dinner home to their own houses . — C , " Correspondent of the Weekly Tribune .
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INDUSTRIAL MEETING IN WESTMINSTER . A crowded meeting convened by the Central Board of Working Men ' s Associations was held on Thursday evening , the 18 th instant , at the Temperance Hall , Broadway , Westminster . Mr . Thomas Hughes , the barrister , one of the principal promoters of this phase of associative labour , occupied the chair . In opening the proceedings , he spoke upon the necessity of self sacrifice as the basis of the fraternal ,. the Christian , and redeeming principles of association . The first resolution was to the effect , That competition was one of the greatest causes of the misery
existing among the working classes , and that the organization of industry on the association principle was the most efficient remedy . This was proposed by Mr . Walford , and spoken to by Gerald Massey and Mr . Field , both members of associations already in operation . The second resolution showing , That the organization of labour cannot only be effected without endangering capital , but may be the means of securing to it interest , as is proved by the Tailors ' Association in Castlo-street ; and the third , That the
best means of ensuring the success of the associations is by providing them with custom—were spoken to by Messrs . Millbank , Benny , A . Campbell , Shorter , and Walter Cooper . Interesting accounts of the condition of eight associations started in five months , were given . At the conclusion , three cheers wore given for Professor Maurice , and other coadjutors in this cause . It was said that this was the first of a series of meetings to be held throughout London ; and that the Christian Socialists would speedily issue an organ—a weekly periodical , to be called the Brotherhood of Labour . G , M .
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CENTRAL MEETING or the REFORM LEAGUE . A meeting of the friends of the League of Social Reform was held at Birstal , the centre of a large manufacturing district in the West Riding , on Sunday last , for the purposes of explaining the intentions and adding to the numbers of the League . The following resolutions were respectively proposed and carried : — 1 . " That the principles laid down by the Congress of Social Reformers recently held in London , are deserving of the support and active cooperation of all classes , especially of those who more immediately suffer from the present malconstruction of society . 2 . That in accordance with the preceding resolution ,
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July 27 , 1850 . ] ©*« VLtUiltX . 417
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Leader (1850-1860), July 27, 1850, page 417, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1848/page/9/
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